AMM All-Stars on stage at Dia de Muertas, from left, Graham Davis (synths), Peter Baxter (drumset), Iris Watson (djembe hand drum), Out To Lunch (vocals), Andrew King (guitar), Dave Black (guitar), Ian Stone (bass) [Esther Leslie]

• WHEN big institutions like the Francis Crick seek council permission to build, they generally promise something for “the community”.

True enough, this resulted in a somewhat cheerless and underused office space called the Living Centre at the back on Ossulston Street.

On the Saturday at the end of last month, Javier Calderon at the Chalton Gallery managed to persuade the Crick, British Library, Big Local and various Mexican bodies to fund a Dia de Muertas all down Ossulston Street.

A stage was erected and, wonder of wonders, local bands got a chance to play (my band one of the number).

Over-priced food in too-small portions (there were complaints) isn’t my idea of a good time, but the lovely Story Garden between the Crick and the British Library was full of people, it felt special.

The reason for this letter, though, is to object to the Crick’s woefully patronising attitude to “community outreach”.

I quote from the programme: “Make a special bracelet or keyring based on your eye colour and learn all about how important your genes and ancestors are.”

This is what I learnt about genetics at my (all-white) primary school 60 years ago: brown and blue eyes and recessive genes etc. Can I ask the Crick’s outreach staff to watch Nina Jablonski’s fabulous YouTubes on “skin color”?

Given the wonderful diversity of skin colour in Somers Town, this would be a subject of real interest to local kids (in the United States Jablonski leads summer camps on the topic).

I know skin colour is notoriously connected to racial slurs, but Jablonski’s scientific approach’ based on understanding melanin production in high-UV latitudes’ separates the evolution of “sweaty, naked human skin” from the horrors of the slave trade and the justifications provided by bourgeois philosophers like David Hume and Immanuel Kant.

Skin colour and its alteration under sunlight are no longer the great unmentionables; anti-racists needn’t be frightened of the facts. Francis Crick, get up to speed on the latest developments! And tell the community about it.

BEN WATSON
AMM All-Stars
Somers Town